REAL PEOPLE, REAL ISSUES

38 posts categorized "SUMMER OLYMPICS 08"

August 24, 2008

BEIJING, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Following is a selection of the
top 10 moments from the Beijing Olympics: 1) Usain Bolt breaks
the 100 metres world record. Bolt already owned the record and
in front of a packed Bird’s Nest stadium he ran 9.69 seconds.
He thumped his chest in triumph over the last few metres before
his ‘marksman’ celebration which became one of the lasting
images of the Games. 2) Michael Phelps roars in triumph and
relief after American team mate Jason Lezak overtook France’s
Alain Bernard on the final leg of the 4x100 freestyle relay to
keep alive Phelps’s dream of beating Mark Spitz’s record from
1972 of seven golds in a Games - a dream he was to realise. 3)
Liu Xiang dejectedly walks away from the track as he realises
he has to withdraw from the defence of his 110 metres hurdles
title because of a leg injury. Liu was the most popular
sportsman in China and his grimacing departure clouded the
Games for millions of home fans. 4) Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva
turns the Bird’s Nest into her private theatre with a gold
medal and world record-breaking pole vault performance that
captivated the 91,000 crowd. After she spent most of the
competition lying under a towel, she broke her own world mark
with a leap of 5.05 metres. 5) The Opening Ceremony. It emerged
that some of the performance seen on television had been
enhanced by computers, a child singer was replaced by a
supposedly prettier face to mime to her voice and
representatives of China’s ethnic minorities were no such
thing. But it was a jaw-dropping beginning to the Games,
culminating in former gymnast Li Ning being swung up the roof
of the stadium and ‘running’ around the top level before
lighting the cauldron. 6) German weightlifter Matthias Steiner
kisses a picture of his late wife Susann on the gold medal
podium, choking back tears over the promise he made to her that
he would keep their Olympic dream. The super-heavyweight made
the pledge to Susann at her bedside in hospital as she lay
dying after a car crash in 2007. 7) American Matt Emmons blows
a 3.3-point lead on the very last shot of a 120-shot
competition to throw away the gold medal in the “marathon”
event of shooting. Four years ago in Athens he had fired at the
wrong target and squandered a 3-point lead. 8) Usain Bolt
breaks Michael Johnson’s 200 metres record. Charging towards
the finish line, Bolt has his eye on the clock all the way and
once again celebrates his triumph in style—this time, after
he completed his run. 9) Rohullah Nikpai wins Afghanistan’s
first Olympic medal with a bronze in the men’s 58-kg taekwondo.
Proof that no matter how tough the conditions you have to train
in, Olympic success is achievable if you have the talent. 10)
Estonian Gerd Kanter celebrates his discus gold medal by
sprinting down the 100 metre track at the Bird’s Nest and
mimicking Bolt’s marksman routine. High school jinks in a week
when fun was put back into track and field

BEIJING (AP)—As the crowd roared and his team exulted in its gold medals,
the coach of the U.S. men’s volleyball team buried his head in his hands and
walked off the court. He had gone from the lowest low to the highest high, and
it was all too much.Hugh McCutcheon needed to be alone.Just two weeks ago, at the start of the Olympics, his father-in-law had been
stabbed to death in Beijing. He stepped away from his job to take care of his
family. But his team, stirred by the tragedy, began an incredible run, ending
Sunday with a 3-1 victory over defending champion Brazil—a team that they were
never expected to beat.“It all was starting to sink in,” he said. “I had to take a step out and
collect my thoughts and collect my emotions and come back out. It’s a very
meaningful moment.”In two weeks of competition, the Americans were undefeated. The 20-25,
25-22, 25-21, 25-23 final gave the U.S. men their third Olympic gold medal in
the sport, matching the record set by the Russians. Top-ranked Brazil, a
two-time gold medalist, was left with the silver medal. Russia won the bronze
earlier in the day with a three-set victory over Italy.sually, the Olympic focus is on the athletes. But the tragedy endured by
this coach was an integral part of his team’s story.“He’ll be the first to tell you that winning won’t bring Todd back,” U.S.
wing spiker Reid Priddy said. “However this is a goal that he and his family
have invested their lives in, just like we have. And so I know this is an
incredibly special moment for us.”Todd Bachman was killed while sightseeing at the 13th-century Drum Tower in
Beijing the day after opening ceremonies. Bachman’s wife, Barbara, was badly
wounded; the assailant jumped to his death from the tower.McCutcheon missed the team’s first three games to be with his wife, former
volleyball Olympian Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman McCutcheon, who was there when the
attack occurred. Barbara Bachman eventually improved enough to return to the
U.S. by air ambulance. SOURCE:NBCOLYMPICS.COM

BEIJING (AP)—Arm-in-arm, they climbed onto the middle of the medals
platform, the spot that for so long was U.S. private property.Some players flashed their Olympic medals to the crowd. One pretended to
take a bite, just to make sure it was real.Yep, it was gold—the color the Americans always used to win but hadn’t
since 2000.Culminating a three-year mission to end years of embarrassment, the U.S.
team survived a huge challenge from Spain, winning 118-107 in the gold-medal
game Sunday.Order was restored in international basketball.“Much respect to Spain, but the U.S. is back on top again,” LeBron James
said at a press conference attended by the entire team.But not by that much anymore.After overwhelming everyone for seven games, the Americans led by only four
points with under 21/2 minutes to play. Then they proved they could handle a
close game that it seemed would never come in Beijing.Their prize: the first U.S. gold medal since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.Argentina won the bronze with an 87-75 victory against Lithuania.Dwyane Wade scored 27 points for the Americans, who found a much gamer
Spanish team than the one they humiliated by 37 points earlier in the
tournament. Kobe Bryant added 20 points.In a game so devoid of defense that it felt more like an NBA All-Star game
than one with a title at stake, the Americans had too much offense down the
stretch. Bryant converted a clutch four-point play with 3:10 remaining, holding
his finger to his lips to quiet the rowdy Spanish crowd behind the basket. Wade added another 3-pointer that made it 111-104 with just over 2 minutes
left, and only then could the Americans relax a little.They began to celebrate during a break after some technical fouls on Spain
with 26 seconds left, then partied at midcourt when it was over with “Born in
the USA” blaring over the arena’s speakers.“We played with great character in one of the great games in international
basketball history, I think,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.Nobody else had been close to the Americans in Beijing. This team’s only
Olympic competition had been history, in a Dream matchup with guys named Jordan,
Magic, Bird and the rest of the U.S. team that dominated the Barcelona Games in
1992. SOURCE:NBCOLYMPICS.COM

BEIJING -- IOC president Jacques Rogge criticized Jamaican sprinter
Usain Bolt on Thursday for showing a lack of respect to other
competitors after his record-breaking gold-medal performances in the
100 and 200 meters. "That's not the way we perceive being a champion," Rogge said.The International Olympic Committee chief hailed Bolt's stunning
achievements in the two sprints, comparing him to American great Jesse
Owens, but said Bolt should have cut out the look-at-me flaunting and
acknowledged the other athletes."I have no problem with him
doing a show," Rogge said in an interview with three international news
agency reporters. "I think he should show more respect for his
competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other
ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he
made in the 100 meters."Having built a huge lead in Saturday's
100 final, Bolt slowed, glanced around with arms outstretched and
pounded his chest before crossing the finish line in a world record
time of 9.69 seconds."I understand the joy," Rogge said. "He
might have interpreted that in another way, but the way it was
perceived was 'catch me if you can.' You don't do that. But he'll
learn. He's still a young man."Bolt, who turned 22 on Thursday,
stormed to another one-sided victory Wednesday night in the 200,
breaking Michael Johnson's 12-year-old record of 19.32 seconds and
lowering the mark to 19.30.Bolt made little effort to
congratulate the other runners as he wrapped himself in a Jamaican flag
and set off on a solo victory lap. Swaying to the reggae music on the
stadium loudspeakers, he walked barefoot around the track, putting his
face inches from a TV camera, raising an index finger and yelling, "I
am No. 1! I am No. 1!""He still has to mature," Rogge said. "I would love him to show more
respect for his competitors. That's not the way we perceive being a
champion. But he will learn in time. He should shake hands with his
competitors and not ignore them. He'll learn that sooner or later. But
[he's] a great athlete, of course." SOURCE:ESPN.COM

August 20, 2008

It was medal-round (and dinner) time in China which meant that the
Redeem Team was providing some breakfast theater in New York this
morning as they took on Australia in the quarter-final. To read our
near-live commentary and analysis of the game, written as it happened,
scroll down the page and read back up. The things we do for the love of
the game…0956 ET It was a close game through the first half as
Australia limited its turnovers, but a three-pointer on the stroke of
half-time really changed the face of the game. From a 9-point deficit
for the Aussies, it became 12 at the break. And when the Americans
started the third quarter on fire, thanks in large part to Kobe
Bryant’s hot hand, the outcome was all but decided. Kobe finished with
23 points and LeBron had 16, while the team shot 56.6 percent from the
field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. Once that long-range
shooting clicked, the Aussies didn’t stand a chance. 0943 ET It’s over! Actually, it was over about 20
minutes ago, so I should say: There’s no more time on the clock! The
U.S. wins 116-85 to cruise into the semis on Friday. 0942 ET Inside the final minute, the U.S. is up
116-85 thanks to phenomenal performances from LeBron and Kobe. But
beyond them, the performances of Chris Bosh and Tayshaun Prince really
stood out. 0938 ET They even thanked the interns. And now, they’re wishing people a happy birthday. Yes, it’s officially a blowout now.0935 ET The NBC announcers are thanking the
production crew. That should tell you everything you need to know about
where this game stands with just over 3 minutes left. It’s 106-80 and
the U.S. will now look ahead to the winner of the Greece-Argentina game
in Friday’s semi-final. 0932 ET Michael Redd, who was brought into the fold
almost as the United States’ token three-point shooter, shows what he’s
all about with a three from the corner. But in a game like this where
the Americans have actually found their touch from range, he seems
happy to just get on the floor. Carlos Boozer is on now too meaning
every American will have played. SOURCE:NYT.COM

BEIJING — The dramatic ascendance of Usain Bolt
as the world’s greatest sprinter continued Wednesday night at the
Beijing Olympics as he left another group of elite runners far behind
in setting a world record in the 200 meters and winning his second gold
medal. Having obliterated the world record in the 100 on Saturday, he
is the first man to win the 100 and 200 at the same Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984.Starting in Lane 5, Bolt took the lead in the first 50 meters and
won in devastating fashion, pulling away from the field and winning by
several meters in a time of 19.30. Michael Johnson had held the record
of 19.32, set in 1996 at the Atlanta Games.Churandy Martina of
the Netherlands Antilles won the silver. Wallace Spearmon of the United
States finished third, but as he began a victory lap while draped in an
American flag, he learned that he had been disqualified for stepping
into the lane of his teammate Walter Dix. Shawn Crawford, also of the
United States, ended up with the bronze.The United States
filed a protest over Spearmon’s disqualification. Televised replays
showed Spearmon stepping on the line several times.With the Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang
out of the Games with an injury, leaving the Bird’s Nest stadium
without the main attraction, Bolt and his fellow Jamaican sprinters
have turned the venue into their own showcase. Bolt first stole the
show in his Olympic final debut Saturday, delivering the record-setting
performance in the 100 — in 9.69 seconds — despite beginning his
celebration well before the finish line. The next night, three Jamaican
women swept the medals in the 100. SOURCE:NYT.COM

August 17, 2008

American Keeth Smart led the U.S. fencing team to a silver medal in
Beijing on Sunday, almost managing an impressive comeback against the
defending champion, France.Smart, 30, has been exposing the sport of fencing to African Americans, and was the first American of any race to achieve the #1 ranking in fencing.But despite his accomplishments, his participation in the Olympics
this year wasn't always a sure thing. Since leading the US team to a
fourth place finish in Athens in 2004, his father passed away. Then
four months ago, doctors told Smart he had a low platelet count and
could die of severe internal bleeding within two days. After two weeks
in intensive care, his mother died of cancer. Ironically, Smart's
parents were the ones who had encouraged him to take up fencing in the
first place.Since April, Smart has overcome the rare blood disease
that nearly killed him, and made his way onto the U.S. Olympic team.
Now with a silver medal under his belt, he reflects on the highs and
lows of the past year."This year has been one of the hardest years of my life as well as
one of the greatest years of my life," Smart said in Beijing. "I've
been on a rollercoaster," he said. "I'll probably take a deep breath
and it will all hit me. I'm still on an emotional high."Smart's performance gave the American men their first Olympic
fencing medal since 1984 and only their second medal in men's team
sabre in Olympic history. It was a big turnaround from the 2004
Olympics, where the U.S. just missed the bronze.Smart was born in New York City and only took up fencing at the
urging of his parents. Under the tutelage of Olympic sabre
bronze-medalist Peter Westbrook, he mastered his skills and worked his
way to the top of the sport while he was working for Verizon.A graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School in 1996, he won the
NCAA sabre champion in 1997 for St. John's University and became the first U.S. fencer ever to rank first in the world in March 2003 with a medal in World Cup competition in Athens, Greece. Smart's sister, U.S. fencer Erinn Smart, is also a successful athlete, and she helped the women's team win a silver medal in Beijing as well. Now that he's won a silver medal in the Olympics, what's the next
trick up Smart's sleeve? He's getting ready to start business school at
Columbia University. SOURCE:THE DAILY VOICE

BEIJING (AP)—A few fun-loving fresh faces have suddenly turned Jamaica
into the “World’s Fastest Nation.”And that supposed U.S. track and field juggernaut? Well, things aren’t quite
going to plan.Right fist thrust overhead as she crossed the finish line all alone, silver
braces shining in the Bird’s Nest lights as she hopped in celebration like the
21-year-old she is, little-known Shelly-Ann Fraser won the women’s 100 meters
Sunday night in 10.78 seconds to help make these Olympics a sweeping success for
the Caribbean island.Fraser was followed across the line, steps later, by teammates Sherone
Simpson and Kerron Stewart, who both finished in 10.98 and both collected
silvers—giving Jamaica the first sweep of medals in a women’s 100 by any
nation at any Olympics or world championships.That impressive display came one day after Usain Bolt’s easy-as-could-be,
hot-dogging, record-breaking victory in the men’s 100—giving Jamaica the first
sweep of men’s and women’s 100 golds at any Olympics since 1988.Not bad for a nation of 2.8 million, about the population of Chicago. Not
bad for a nation that long has produced top sprinters but never an Olympic dash
champion, man or woman, before this wonderful 2-for-2 weekend.“I was speechless yesterday for a while. Today I cried,” Jamaica’s minister
of sport, Olivia Grange, said. “Little Jamaica—our country is blessed with
some of the best, if not the best, talent you can find.”Now compare and contrast. The single 100 bronze for the United States,
earned by Walter Dix, amounts to the country’s worst combined showing in the
men’s and women’s dashes at an Olympics since earning zero medals in the 100 at
both the 1980 Moscow Games—where, let’s remember, a boycott prevented any
Americans from competing—and the 1976 Montreal Games.“We’ve dominated for years, and now it’s their time,” said Lauryn Williams,
the 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2005 world champion—and one of three U.S.
women who never mounted a challenge during Sunday’s final. SOURCE:NBCOLYMPICS.COM

Michael Phelps
just completed the greatest Olympic performance in history. That is (or
should be) without debate. But does Phelps' dominance in Athens and
Beijing put him atop the list of greatest Olympians ever?It's
too early to tell, since Phelps likely isn't finished winning Olympic
medals. If he returns in 2012 at the London Games and wins, say, five
more medals, then there will be no question that he should be hailed as
the top Olympian of all-time. If Phelps retired tomorrow though, one
could still make a compelling case on his behalf.The naysayers
claim that because Phelps is a swimmer, somehow his accomplishments
aren't as impressive. (One column, ridiculously, even goes so far as to
say that it's "easy to win multiple medals in swimming.") Because swimming has so many racing opportunities, they say, medals are cheapened. Rubbish.Of
the 20 men who have won the most Olympic medals, only three (Phelps,
Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi) were swimmers. Gymnasts dominate the top
20. If winning swimming medals was so easy, swimmers should
theoretically be all over that list.Even if they did, though,
Phelps' versatility renders that argument moot. Just because all
swimming strokes take place in a pool doesn't mean they're the same.
Phelps won at three different distances - 100, 200 and 400 meters -- in
Beijing. It's the swimming equivalent of a runner pulling the 200, 400
and 800 triple. That's never been attempted in any Olympics, let alone accomplished. SOURCE:NBCOLYMPICS.COM

August 16, 2008

BEIJING (AP)—He won it with his golden shoe untied. Usain Bolt set the world record and won the Olympic 100-meter gold medal
Saturday in 9.69 seconds—a time that could have been faster had he not spent
the last seven strides pounding his chest, turning up the palms of his
outstretched arms and mugging for the cameras before he crossed the finish line
with his left shoelace flapping.He won by more than a body length—a country mile in sprint proportions—
and the only question left was how fast he could have gone if he had run hard
the entire way.“It wasn’t planned,” the newly crowned “World’s Fastest Man” said of his
running celebration. “My aim was to come out and win. When I saw the time, I’m
celebrating. I’m happy.”He broke his own record, set in May in New York, by .03 second and became
the first sprinter to set the world record in the Olympics since Donovan Bailey
ran 9.84 at the 1996 Atlanta Games.“No one will get near it,” fellow Jamaican Michael Frater, the sixth-place
finisher, said of Bolt’s record. Except perhaps Bolt himself.Bolt beat Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago by 0.2 second while
American Walter Dix was third. The race marked the first time six runners broke
10 seconds in the Olympics. There was no wind—the reading was 0.0.Asafa Powell, the Jamaican who held the world record for three years before
Bolt grabbed it, continued his string of big-race disappointments, fading to
fifth for the second straight Olympics.American Tyson Gay, who was supposed to be the third part of a so-called
dream race, didn’t even make the final, eliminated with a fifth-place finish in
his semi.Bolt’s specialty has been the 200 meters, and he will be a heavy favorite to
win that one Wednesday in what would be the first men’s Olympic sprint double
since Carl Lewis in 1988. Bolt persuaded his coach 13 months ago to let him try
the 100, too—and what quick progress he has made.“Usain was spectacular,” Powell said. “He was definitely untouchable
tonight. He could have gone a lot faster if he had run straight through the
line.” SOURCE:NBCOLYMPICS.COM

-- Four down, four to go. The U.S. men's Olympic team is halfway back to the top of the basketball world.And not even the world champions - on paper anyway - could give the Americans a game.Unleashing a lethal 3-point barrage for the first time in Beijing,
the Americans turned the marquee matchup of the preliminary round into
another romp, beating Spain 119-82 Saturday night to clinch the top
seed in their group.LeBron James scored 18 points for the United States (4-0), which
hit seven of its first 10 attempts from behind the arc after making
only 29 percent in its first three games. They finished at 48 percent
(12-of-25), an almost unfair total for a team with unmatched
athleticism.Every U.S. player scored - even Jason Kidd Jason Kidd
for the first time in Beijing - as the Americans turned the matchup of
unbeatens into their easiest victory yet. Dwyane Wade and Carmelo
Anthony each finished with 16 points.The Americans will face the No. 4 seed from Group A, either
Australia or Croatia, in the quarterfinals. They also wouldn't have to
face Lithuania, the other remaining unbeaten and top seed from the
other side, or Spain again until the gold-medal game. Felipe Reyes scored 19 points for Spain (3-1), the 2006 world
champion. The Spanish have won eight of their last 10 Olympic games,
but the two losses were against the Americans. They hope to get another
crack next Sunday on the final day of the Beijing Games.The Americans need to play eight games to win the gold medal. They
can lose Monday's now-meaningless game to close pool play against
Germany, but have to be perfect for the final three starting Wednesday.They look up for the task.Ignoring early foul trouble to Kobe Bryant and Anthony, the
Americans turned to top reserves Wade and Chris Paul to ignite an early
13-3 spurt that gave them a 13-point lead late in the first quarter,
and Spain never made much of a dent in the deficit even while shooting
58 percent in the first half.The Spanish tried to slow the Americans with a zone defense, but
crisp ball movement set up open 3-pointers - and the U.S. players
finally made them. James and Bryant hit from behind the arc on
consecutive possessions after Spain trimmed the U.S. lead to eight
midway through the second quarter, and Deron Williams nailed another
during a 9-0 burst that made it a 20-point game late in the half. The Americans led 61-45 at the break, then Anthony hit two more 3s
during an 11-3 surge to open the second half that made it 72-48 when
Kidd sank a layup - his first shot attempt in Beijing.With the packed crowd still buzzing from China's thrilling victory
against Germany earlier in the night session, the Olympic basketball
arena had an energy that had been missing since the Americans' victory
against the Chinese on opening night.James was already walking toward the Spanish team's line of players
for the pregame handshakes and exchange of gifts before Spain's
national anthem was even finished. Realizing the opponents weren't
ready, he stopped at midcourt and tried to get his teammates to do the
same, but some walked right past. That made it clear: James and his teammates were ready to go. He opened the game with a steal and layup and added seven more
points in the first period. After needing 1 ½ quarters to start pulling
away from their first three opponents, the Americans needed barely 8
minutes to take a double-digit lead in this one.And that was with Bryant missing most of the period in foul
trouble. He flattened Pau Gasol, his Los Angeles Lakers teammate, while
trying to run through a pick 2 minutes into the game, then collected an
offensive foul with 5:50 remaining. SOURCE:NYPOST.COM

BEIJING (AP)—The U.S. Olympic team stopped the pick-and-rolls—and just
about everything else Greece tried.These Americans that looked so lost two years at the world championship when
this team was being formed appear to have found their Olympic defensive way. Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in
the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to a 92-69
victory Thursday night to clinch a spot in the medal round.Their offense wasn’t too shabby either as the Americans were able to find
the range on jump shots when the Greeks went to a zone defense to slow them
down.Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points for the United States
(3-0), which moves on to a matchup of Group B unbeatens Saturday night against
world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group’s top seed for the
quarterfinals.Dwyane Wade added 17 points and LeBron James scored 13. Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the world
championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical
execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.This time, the Americans had an answer for everything, using a suffocating
defense to extend a seven-point lead into a 19-point cushion in the final 51/2
minutes of the first half. SOURCE:YAHOO.SPORTS.COM

BEIJING (AP)—Michael Phelps etched his name with Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis
among the winningest Olympians ever Tuesday. With three gold medals and three
world records, he has no equal in China.In winning the 200-meter freestyle, Phelps ran his career Olympic total to
nine golds and avenged his only individual loss in Athens four years ago, when a
19-year-old Phelps took on the 200 free just so he could compete with Ian Thorpe
and Pieter van den Hoogenband. He touched third that night in what was called
the “Race of the Century.” This time, it was hardly a race at all. It was all
Phelps.Racing out of lane six, he quickly surged to the lead and led by a full body
length halfway through the second of four laps. Phelps was nearly two seconds
ahead of the field when he touched in 1 minute, 42.96 seconds, breaking the mark
of 1:43.86 he set at last year’s world championships.“That’s great,” said Phelps, who was much more reserved in his celebration
after a wild performance on deck the previous day. “I just wanted to be out at
the 50-meter point, and that’s where I was. I was in open water, and it was
difficult for the other guys to see me.”South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan took the silver in 1:44.85, touching while
Phelps was already looking at the scoreboard. Peter Vanderkaay, one of Phelps’
training partners, gave the U.S. another medal by claiming the bronze in
1:45.14. SOURCE:YAHOOSPORTS.COM

September 2012

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